How to Delete Backups on Mac [2023 Complete Guide]

Here we offer you guidance on how to delete backups on Mac.

When a computer has insufficient disk space, it tends to perform slower than usual. This is mainly because every action an operating system performs requires storage space. When you open an app, for instance, the system generates cache files so that the app can load faster the next time you open it. The same happens when you visit a site. The system creates temporary files so the site loads faster next time. Therefore, when your computer has insufficient disk space, the system isn’t able to create files that’ll help perform tasks faster. That’s precisely why experts suggest performing cleanup on your Mac regularly.

However, as easy as it may sound, it can take hours to free up even a mere 1 GB worth of disk space, as you have to jump from one folder to another to find unnecessary files. You have to do this manually, and that’s what makes it time-consuming.

On the bright side, if your computer currently contains backups, freeing up space might be easier than you may think. After all, backups take up several GBs worth of size, so once you find them, you can easily free up tens of GBs of space with just a few clicks. Compared to finding and deleting hundreds of small-sized files, locating and erasing backups on your Mac computer is much easier and faster. With that in mind, here’s how to delete backups on Mac in four different ways.

Method #1: How to Delete Backups on Mac With Spotlight

Your first option is to use Spotlight—the search system of macOS computers. It allows you to scour your computer for files, folders, and other items if you enter the necessary information. For instance, you can search for specific files by entering a keyword or term. It’s also possible to look for a folder using a specific file. That means you can very easily find backups on your computer since they’re almost always located in the same default directory. Here’s how you can do it:

1. On your computer, find and click the search bar that says Spotlight Search. It should be somewhere around the top area of your computer. It should also have a magnifier icon to its left, which is the icon of Spotlight.

Note: You may also press Command + Space on your keyboard as a shortcut to immediately open Spotlight.

• Once there, copy and paste the following text: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/.  This is the directory of the folder that contains all your backups, including the ones from your mobile devices.
• Press the Return key on your keyboard.
• There will be several categories in the search results. Under the Folders category, select the Backup folder.
• The computer will then open Finder and send you to that directory. Open it and once inside, find and delete the backups you think are no longer necessary. The backups come in the form of folders.

Unfortunately, as helpful as Spotlight may be, it’s a bit lacking in terms of searching capabilities. Sometimes, you may end up getting no results at all even after entering the correct file path. That’s why you must have an alternative method.

Method #2: How to Delete Backups on Mac Via Finder

Finder is the file management system of macOS computers. It has several features, and though it’s not as comprehensive, you can search for files and folders using the app. In particular, you can search for specific folders using a file path, just like how Spotlight works in the previous method. With that said, here’s how to delete backups on Mac using the Finder app:                                                                

1. Open a session of Finder on your computer.
2. Click Go from the top menu bar.
3. Select Go to Folder… from theresulting dropdown menu.
4. A popup menu will appear. There, copy and paste the following text: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/, just like you did in the previous section.
5. Click the Go button to proceed.
6. The Finder will then take you to the specified directory. Simply find and delete the backups you wish to delete.

Keep in mind that the aforementioned file path won’t always be where your backups are. It’s the default directory, meaning it can be changed. If you can’t find the backup folder on this directory, perhaps you changed the file path in the past. If so, you’ll have to rely on a different method, one that doesn’t rely on a fixed file path, one that can detect backups automatically.

Method #3: How to Delete Backups on Mac Using iTunes

iTunes has always been an excellent platform on macOS. It has numerous features that make things easier for Mac users, and one such feature is the ability to look for backups without finding them yourself. The software can detect the backup automatically, wherever it may be.  Hence, it’s easy to find and delete backups using iTunes, and here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the iTunes app.
2. On the left sidebar under the Locations section, select Macintosh HD. Doing so will ensure you’re able to locate only the backups that are on the hard drive of your Mac and not the ones connected to your iOS smartphones.
3. Click the Manage Backups… button at the bottom area of the window.
4. A popup window will appear listing the backups currently stored inside the selected storage. The window will also display the time and date the backup was created and whether it’s archived or not. Archived backups have a padlock icon to the left of the date. If you’re not aware, when you archive a backup, it means when the device or hard drive creates a new backup, the archived backup won’t be overwritten. Select a backup from this list.
5. Click the Delete Backup button to delete that backup.
6. Click OK once you’re done deleting backups.

Perhaps the only problem with this method is the fact that iTunes doesn’t exist on all macOS computers. It’s only available in macOS Mojave or earlier computers, so if your Mac is a bit of a newer model, you’ll have to use another method.

Method #4: Use Mac Cleaner

Deleting backups is arguably the most time-efficient way to free up space on your computer. After all, a single backup is worth thousands of small-sized files, which usually take hours to find and delete. That’s why learning how to delete backups on Mac is imperative. Perhaps the only problem with this is how you can find the backups in the first place. Though there are several ways to go about this, as mentioned in the previous sections, the best way is to use an app called Mac Cleaner.

Mac Cleaner is a cleaning app specializing in deleting files. It’s capable of detecting certain files, including large files like backups, though you need to set it up. With that said, here’s a guide on how to delete backups on Mac using the app:

Step #1: Download, Install, and Launch Mac Cleaner

Open any browser on your computer and head to this link, which should send you to the software’s download site. Click the Download Now button on that site to download a DMG file. That DMG file is the installer, so open it as soon as the download is complete. Then, follow the onscreen instructions. The software will open automatically once the installation is done.

Step #2: Choose Delete Large Files

Mac Cleaner has a total of six modules, namely (1) Clean Up Junk, (2) Delete Large Files, (3) Delete Duplicate Files, (4) Erase Private Data, (5) Speed Up Your Mac, and (6) Manage Apps & Extensions. Since your goal is to delete backups on your computer, you’ll only need the Delete Large Files module. As the name suggests, it allows you to delete large files, specifically ones that aren’t necessary and has a size of 50MB or higher. Backups fit that criteria perfectly, so it’s the ideal module for your purposes. To select the module, simply click on it from the left-hand side of the software.

Step #3: Click Scan

Next, you must scan your computer for files. To do so, you simply need to click the Scan button at the bottom area of the software. Keep in mind that it’s not guaranteed that it’ll detect your backup, so you may have to scan a couple of times.

Step #4: Select an File/s

After the software scans your computer, it’ll create a list of files that fits its criterion for large files. You’ll find other details about each file, such as the file’s type, size, and when they were last used or created. These pieces of information will be useful for spotting the specific backup you want to delete, particularly the ones that were created long ago.  Simply select the file/s you want to delete by clicking on their checkboxes. You can also click the checkbox of Select All if you want to delete all the items.

Step #5: Delete the File/s

To finalize the process, you simply have to click the Delete button located at the top-right corner of the interface. It may take a couple of seconds or even minutes for the software to completely delete the files since they’re large, so you have to wait.

Going Forward

As eager as you might be to delete backups on Mac, you must keep in mind that there won’t always be a backup on your computer. Perhaps the automatic backup feature is disabled so there are no backups. Maybe you already deleted the most recent backup in the past. Either way, there are times when you won’t find a single backup, meaning you have no choice but to find other files instead. Fortunately, Mac Cleaner can also find other unnecessary files, though you can also find them manually if you have time to spare. Needless to say, this guide should have everything you need to delete backups.